In a significant development in the illegal online betting case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets worth a substantial Rs 8 crore belonging to prominent cricketers and Bollywood actors. This action is part of the agency's ongoing money laundering probe against the offshore betting platform 1xBet.
Celebrities Under Scanner for Endorsements
The attached assets belong to former Indian cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Robin Uthappa, along with actors Urvashi Rautela, Sonu Sood, Mimi Chakraborty, Ankush Hazra, and Neha Sharma. The ED stated that these celebrities knowingly entered into endorsement agreements with foreign entities linked to 1xBet and its surrogate brands like 1xBat and 1xbat Sporting Lines.
According to the agency, these endorsements were made in return for payments that were cleverly routed through foreign intermediaries. This complex layering of transactions was designed to conceal the illicit origin of the funds, which are directly linked to proceeds of crime generated from illegal betting activities in India.
Total Attachments Cross Rs 19 Crore Mark
With this latest move, the total value of assets attached by the ED in this high-profile case has now reached Rs 19 crore. Earlier, on October 6, the financial investigation agency had attached assets worth over Rs 11 crore belonging to star cricketers Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina in connection with the same probe.
The ED's money laundering investigation is based on multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) registered by various state police forces across India against the operators of the illegal offshore betting platform. The platform is accused of aggressively promoting illegal betting and gambling operations within the country without any authorisation.
Modus Operandi of the Betting Platform
The investigation has revealed that 1xBet operated in India without any legal permission. To circumvent the law and target Indian users, the platform extensively used surrogate branding and advertisements. These promotions were strategically placed across social media platforms, online videos, and print media to lure users.
"Payments for endorsements were structured through layered transactions using foreign intermediaries to disguise the illegal source of funds," the ED emphasised in its statement issued on Friday. The agency clarified that the celebrities endorsed the brand through its surrogates, facilitating the platform's reach and operations in India.
This case highlights the serious legal and financial repercussions of endorsing unregulated and illegal platforms, even if the agreements are structured through foreign entities. The ED's actions signal a stringent crackdown on the financial networks supporting illegal online betting in the country.
